1Chronicles 21:1 ¶ And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.
The NIV Commentary notes that the writer jumps forward about 20 years in time at this point in his record.
This chapter opens with a very thought-provoking verse. First we are told that Satan stood up against Israel. That is how it has been throughout history, and it is how it will continue to be until the LORD establishes His kingdom on earth. Satan hates Israel because it is as a man of Israel that the LORD Jesus would come to earth to bring about the defeat of Satan through His death and resurrection and the eventual establishment of His kingdom on the throne of David. Satan knows his time is limited, and he is determined to cause as much death as he can.
We are then told that he provoked or seduced (from the Hebrew) David into numbering Israel because he knew that would bring about God’s judgment against His people. Wouldn’t it be interesting to know exactly how Satan accomplished his objective? It’s important for we followers of Jesus to recognize that we are just as susceptible to Satan’s seductions as David was.
The record in Samuel words this differently: “And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.”
Putting these two accounts together, I think it is clear that Satan was only allowed to provoke or seduce David as an instrument in the LORD’s hand. We aren’t told exactly what caused the LORD’s anger, but His anger is always justified. As with David, I personally do not believe that Satan is allowed to provoke or seduce those that trust the LORD as Savior unless it is as an instrument to bring about the LORD’s purposes, e.g. Job. This in no way absolves David or us of our guilt when giving in to the enemy’s seduction or provocation. The LORD in His omniscience knows how we will respond and uses that knowledge in accomplishing His will.
1Chronicles 21:2 And David said to Joab and to the rulers of the people, Go, number Israel from Beersheba even to Dan; and bring the number of them to me, that I may know it.
1Chronicles 21:3 And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they be: but, my lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?
David told Joab and his commanders to go and number Israel from Beersheba (in the south) to Dan (in the north); i.e., the whole nation. They were to report the number to him when their task was completed. Context will show that this numbering was intended to reveal the number of men of military age.
Joab, who was never hesitant to speak his mind (as learned in our study of Samuel), protested. He basically said it shouldn’t matter how many there were because that was in God’s hands. However many, they were all servants of the king. He questioned David why this was necessary because he knew that the LORD would count it against Israel. Implied—A census should only be taken as commanded by the LORD.
Joab recognized what David did not. I believe he knew that David’s desire to number the available men of military age was motivated by pride. We know that it was wrong because Satan was at the root of it. Joab knew it was wrong because he was familiar with God’ word.
Guzik offers a good explanation on why the census was wrong: “The principle of Exodus 30:12 speaks to Gods ownership of His people. In the thinking of these ancient cultures, a man only had the right to count or number what belonged to him. Israel didn’t belong to David; Israel belonged to God. It was up to the Lord to command a counting, and if David counted, he should only do it at God’s command and receiving ransom money to atone for the counting.”
Exodus 30:12 “When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them.”
1Chronicles 21:4 Nevertheless the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Wherefore Joab departed, and went throughout all Israel, and came to Jerusalem.
1Chronicles 21:5 And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people unto David. And all they of Israel were a thousand thousand and an hundred thousand men that drew sword: and Judah was four hundred threescore and ten thousand men that drew sword.
1Chronicles 21:6 But Levi and Benjamin counted he not among them: for the king’s word was abominable to Joab.
David refused to heed Joab’s warning, so Joab conducted the census as commanded. The results of the census revealed that there were 1,100,000 men able to handle a sword; Judah added 470,000 men to that number. Joab purposely did not count the men of Levi and Benjamin because he was so angry with David.
The NIV Commentary offers this explanation for the difference in the numbers in this account and that in Samuel: “The total figures that they gathered require clarification in two directions. (1) In comparison with those given in 2Sa 24:9, Ezra’s sum of 1,100,000 for all Israel is larger than Samuel’s 800,000, which probably did not include the regularly organized army (note the lack of an “all” before “Israel”) of 288,000; but his sum of 470,000 for Judah is a bit smaller than Samuel’s 500,000, which may here simply be a round number.”
Clarke notes that the rabbis have their own explanation for Joab not numbering Levi and Benjamin: “Joab, seeing that this would bring down destruction upon the people, purposed to save two tribes. Should David ask, Why have you not numbered the Levites? Joab purposed to say, Because the Levites are not reckoned among the children of Israel. Should he ask, Why have you not numbered Benjamin? he would answer, Benjamin has been already sufficiently punished, on account of the treatment of the woman at Gibeah: if, therefore, this tribe were to be again punished, who would remain?”
1Chronicles 21:7 ¶ And God was displeased with this thing; therefore he smote Israel.
1Chronicles 21:8 And David said unto God, I have sinned greatly, because I have done this thing: but now, I beseech thee, do away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly.
1Chronicles 21:9 And the LORD spake unto Gad, David’s seer, saying,
1Chronicles 21:10 Go and tell David, saying, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things: choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.
God was displeased about the census and judged Israel accordingly. David recognized quite quickly that he had greatly sinned by acting so foolishly and asked the LORD for forgiveness.
The LORD spoke to Gad, David’s personal prophet, and gave him a message for the king. In it, He offered David the choice of one of three punishments.
1Chronicles 21:11 So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Choose thee
1Chronicles 21:12 Either three years’ famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.
1Chronicles 21:13 And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.
So Gad went to inform David of the LORD’s message and the three options of judgment from which he could choose.
Three years of famine
Three months to be destroyed by his enemies
Three days of pestilence throughout the land of Israel at the hand of the LORD
David was in great distress because all of the choices were frightening. He reasoned that it would be better to be at the mercy of the LORD’s judgment because of His great compassion. He knew they would get no compassion from their enemies.
1Chronicles 21:14 So the LORD sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.
1Chronicles 21:15 And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.
1Chronicles 21:16 And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces.
1Chronicles 21:17 And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father’s house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.
So the LORD sent pestilence throughout the land of Israel and 70,000 men died. He then sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem, but as he began his work, the LORD saw the people through eyes of great compassion and told the angel to stop; he had done enough.
We are told that the angel of the LORD was standing by the threshingfloor of Ornan (called Araunah in Samuel) the Jebusite. David could see the angel standing between heaven and earth (up in the air) holding a drawn sword that was stretched out over Jerusalem, a position indicative of judgment. It seems that some of the leaders of Israel could see him also since they all fell upon their faces before him.
David confessed to God that he was the one that committed the sin by commanding that the people be numbered. He pointed out that his people were guiltless in this matter. He asked the LORD to limit His judgment to the house of David and that He not slaughter (from the Hebrew for plagued) the people.
We know, however, (as stated in the comments on verse 1 above) that the LORD wasn’t just angry with David, He was angry with the people of Israel; and the LORD is never angry without reason.
1Chronicles 21:18 ¶ Then the angel of the LORD commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the LORD in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.
1Chronicles 21:19 And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of the LORD.
The angel of the LORD commanded Gad to tell David to go and set up an altar to the LORD in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. And David did so.
1Chronicles 21:20 And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat.
1Chronicles 21:21 And as David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out of the threshingfloor, and bowed himself to David with his face to the ground.
1Chronicles 21:22 Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people.
1Chronicles 21:23 And Ornan said unto David, Take it to thee, and let my lord the king do that which is good in his eyes: lo, I give thee the oxen also for burnt offerings, and the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for the meat offering; I give it all.
1Chronicles 21:24 And king David said to Ornan, Nay; but I will verily buy it for the full price: for I will not take that which is thine for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings without cost.
When Ornan saw the angel, he and his four sons hid themselves. When the angel disappeared (I assume), Ornan proceeded to thresh his wheat. As he was working, David showed up at his threshingfloor. Ornan bowed himself before David, honoring him as his king.
David asked Ornan to sell him the threshingfloor so that he could build an altar to the LORD there. He explained that this was necessary to stop God’s hand of judgment against the people. He also stated his intention to pay pay full price for the value of the land.
Ornan told David that he could have the land. He even offered to give David the things he needed for his offerings—the oxen, the threshing instruments for wood, and the wheat for a grain offering.
David refused Ornan’s offer and stated that he was determined to pay full price for the land. He explained that he could not make his offering before the LORD in good faith if it had cost him nothing.
You have to love Ornan’s willingness to give, but David recognized an important truth. What we give to the LORD must come from personal sacrifice to have any meaning. That doesn’t mean that it has to be of great material value. He even considers our praise of Him a sacrifice because it is a personal expression of love and honor.
Hebrews 13:15 “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”
It should be our mindset as Christians to present our whole being to the LORD as a living sacrifice with a willingness to be used however, whenever and wherever He so chooses.
Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
1Chronicles 21:25 So David gave to Ornan for the place six hundred shekels of gold by weight.
1Chronicles 21:26 And David built there an altar unto the LORD, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called upon the LORD; and he answered him from heaven by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.
1Chronicles 21:27 And the LORD commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof.
So David paid Ornan 600 shekels of gold by weight (about 15 pounds) to buy the threshingfloor. He built an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD. He then called on the LORD in prayer, and the LORD answered by sending fire from heaven to consume the burnt offering in a sign of acceptance. The LORD then commanded the angel to put away his sword.
Again, there is a discrepancy in the amount David paid as recorded in Samuel. Commentators note that the record in Samuel references only the threshingfloor, while the amount recorded here pertains to the whole surrounding area.
We learn later in scripture that this threshingfloor was on Mount Moriah where Solomon eventually built the temple. It is also identified with the place that Abraham offered Isaac on one of its mountains. I believe that event took place on another one of the mountains, the same one upon which Jesus was crucified—Calvary.
2 Chronicles 3:1 “Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the LORD appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite.”
Genesis 22:2 “And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.”
The verse in 2Chronicles tells us that the angel was the preincarnate Jesus, since David had evidently told Solomon that “the LORD” appeared to him there.
1Chronicles 21:28 At that time when David saw that the LORD had answered him in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite, then he sacrificed there.
1Chronicles 21:29 For the tabernacle of the LORD, which Moses made in the wilderness, and the altar of the burnt offering, were at that season in the high place at Gibeon.
1Chronicles 21:30 But David could not go before it to enquire of God: for he was afraid because of the sword of the angel of the LORD.
When David saw that the LORD had answered his prayer, he offered more sacrifices there.
It is noted that the tabernacle of Moses and the original altar of burnt offering were located in the high place at Gibeon.
David chose not to go to Gibeon to offer his sacrifices because his experience had made him afraid. I guess because he had been commanded to go to Ornan’s threshingfloor, and he did not want to disobey.
I liked this observation from Chuck Smith: “If David was a perfect man, if he never did anything wrong, then we would all of us be prone to say, ‘Yes, but David was perfect. I can see why God would use David. I could see why God blessed David, because he was such a perfect man. But God can"t bless me and God can’t use me, because I’m so imperfect.’ So God is very careful to record for us the mistakes and the sins of these men that He used in such a mighty way in order that we would not be excusing ourselves and saying, ‘Well, God can’t use me.’ For God can use you and wants to use you in spite of the fact that you have failed, and in spite of the fact that you’re far from perfect.”
1Chronicles 22:1 ¶ Then David said, This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel.
As I scanned through the rest of this book, it appears that the focus moves to David’s preparation for Solomon to succeed him as king and complete preparation for the building of the temple.
Verse one is connected to the previous chapter in that David designates the land that he bought from Ornan as the place where the temple is to be built and the altar of burnt offering is to be located. Whether he was told this specifically or just assumed it to be the place of God’s choice is not told us. It would be a natural assumption in my opinion.
There is a verse in Deuteronomy that makes me think this was made known to David by some type of divine revelation. It clearly states that the LORD would choose the specific place in the Promised Land at which they should make their burnt offerings.
Deuteronomy 12:5–7 “But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks: And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed thee.”
1Chronicles 22:2 And David commanded to gather together the strangers that were in the land of Israel; and he set masons to hew wrought stones to build the house of God.
1Chronicles 22:3 And David prepared iron in abundance for the nails for the doors of the gates, and for the joinings; and brass in abundance without weight;
1Chronicles 22:4 Also cedar trees in abundance: for the Zidonians and they of Tyre brought much cedar wood to David.
1Chronicles 22:5 And David said, Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be exceeding magnifical, of fame and of glory throughout all countries: I will therefore now make preparation for it. So David prepared abundantly before his death.
David commanded that the resident aliens in Israel be gathered together, so he could appoint them to work as stonemasons and prepare stones for the building of the house of God. Gill made a good observation regarding the use of Gentiles: “…partly that the Israelites, who were freemen, might not be put to hard service; but chiefly this was for the sake of a mystery in it, denoting that the Gentiles would be concerned in building the spiritual house and church of God, the temple was a type and figure of.”
The king gathered an abundance of iron for nails needed for the doors of the gates and for couplings. He gathered so much brass it couldn’t be weighed. He gathered a great amount of cedar wood as brought to him from the people of Zidon and Tyre.
David reasoned that his son Solomon was yet young and inexperienced, so he wanted to make sure that he realized that the temple should be a thing of beauty and magnificence. The house of the LORD, the self-existent eternal God, should be a building that would be admired far and wide throughout the known world. David gathered a tremendous amount of material to provide for the temple’s construction before his death.
1Chronicles 22:6 ¶ Then he called for Solomon his son, and charged him to build an house for the LORD God of Israel.
1Chronicles 22:7 And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build an house unto the name of the LORD my God:
1Chronicles 22:8 But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Thou hast shed blood abundantly, and hast made great wars: thou shalt not build an house unto my name, because thou hast shed much blood upon the earth in my sight.
1Chronicles 22:9 Behold, a son shall be born to thee, who shall be a man of rest; and I will give him rest from all his enemies round about: for his name shall be Solomon, and I will give peace and quietness unto Israel in his days.
1Chronicles 22:10 He shall build an house for my name; and he shall be my son, and I will be his father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel for ever.
Knowing that the end of his life was approaching, David called for his son Solomon and told him it was his responsibility to build a house for the LORD God of Israel. He explained that the LORD would not allow him to build it because he had shed so much blood in war. He explained that the LORD had promised that his son Solomon (the name means “peaceful”) would experience a reign marked by peace and quiet, and he would build Him a house. He also promised that he would treat Solomon like a son and establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.
That statement used to trip me up until I learned (I can’t recall from whom) that though the throne of David and Solomon has been empty for many years, it is still a valid position before the LORD. One day Jesus is going to return to earth to take His position as King of kings on that throne in Israel, and His kingdom will endure for eternity.
1Chronicles 22:11 Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee.
1Chronicles 22:12 Only the LORD give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the LORD thy God.
1Chronicles 22:13 Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the LORD charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.
David then pronounced a blessing upon Solomon. He called for the LORD to be with him and prosper him as he built the house of the LORD “thy God.” David wanted Solomon to experience a close relationship with the LORD as he had. That would only happen if he yielded to the LORD as his God.
David called for the LORD to give Solomon wisdom and understanding as the king of Israel. He also called for Solomon to keep the law of the LORD “thy God.” He told Solomon again that he would prosper if he was faithful to obey the commands of the LORD as delivered to Moses to instruct the people of Israel. David urged Solomon to be strong and of good courage and not to be afraid or discouraged.
David basically charged his son in the same way that the LORD had charged Joshua when he became Israel’s leader after the death of Moses.
Joshua 1:6–7 “Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.”
1Chronicles 22:14 Now, behold, in my trouble I have prepared for the house of the LORD an hundred thousand talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver; and of brass and iron without weight; for it is in abundance: timber also and stone have I prepared; and thou mayest add thereto.
1Chronicles 22:15 Moreover there are workmen with thee in abundance, hewers and workers of stone and timber, and all manner of cunning men for every manner of work.
1Chronicles 22:16 Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and the LORD be with thee.
“in my trouble” – The Hebrew references depression and affliction. Maybe this is a reference to his dismay at not being allowed to build the temple and/or the aches and pains of aging.
David told Solomon that he had made preparations for the temple’s construction by gathering supplies that would be needed.
100,000 talents of gold
1,000,000 talents of silver
brass and iron in such abundance as could not be weighed
timber and stone
The IVP Commentary notes this regarding the gold: “In 1993 the statistics for the world mineral reserve base listed a total of 55,435 tons. The United States Central Bank gold reserve was about 9000 tons. A cube of pure, solid gold that is one foot per side weighs 1200 pounds (worth over $7 million in today’s market). Solomon’s contribution would have filled a standard two-car garage floor to ceiling with such blocks (6250 of them). If the builders would have stacked up blocks such as this they could have built the outer walls of the two main chambers of the temple one foot thick around three sides (with dimensions of 90 by 30 by 30.”
And regarding the silver: “…this is an enormous amount (almost 40,000 tons) and far exceeds anything else from biblical or extrabiblical sources.”
David noted that Solomon would probably still need more. He also told him that there were many workers available for cutting and working with the stone and timber, as well as skilled workers for whatever type of work was needed. He pointed out again that the total supply of gold, silver, brass and iron was beyond measure. He then encouraged his son to get busy.
“Arise and be doing” - This last admonition makes me think that this conversation was held very close to the time of David’s death. Chuck Smith noted that this is how the LORD’s work gets done. We are to get busy serving the LORD with confidence that He is with us in the process when we are serving Him in obedience.
1Chronicles 22:17 ¶ David also commanded all the princes of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying,
1Chronicles 22:18 Is not the LORD your God with you? and hath he not given you rest on every side? for he hath given the inhabitants of the land into mine hand; and the land is subdued before the LORD, and before his people.
1Chronicles 22:19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God, to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and the holy vessels of God, into the house that is to be built to the name of the LORD.
David also commanded the recognized leaders of Israel to help Solomon. He reminded them that the LORD “your God” was with them. He had given them rest from their enemies, and the land had been subdued before the LORD and His people.
David strongly encouraged them all to set their hearts and souls (a reference to their whole being) to seek the LORD “their God.” A relationship with the LORD can only be ours if we actively pursue that relationship by choosing to do the things that please Him. To be able to do that, we need to spend time in His word so that we can become familiar with those things.
David commanded them to build the temple, the house of God, and bring the ark of the covenant and the rest of the holy vessels of God (which were in the tabernacle of Moses at Gibeon) to the new temple for use there according to God’s law.
We learn in a future chapter that David actually gave Solomon a plan with detailed instructions that the LORD had given him. (I capitalized spirit because it is an obvious reference to revelation to David through the Holy Spirit.)
1 Chronicles 28:11–13 “Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat, And the pattern of all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things: Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD.”